Bizarre ramblings of an unwell mind

Mon, 20 Jun 2005 20:52:45 GMT

Alright...I'm following RC

Tue, 07 Jun 2005 14:10:29 GMT

I'm going to switch to LJ for my primary journal. I found a client that is pretty spiffy. I need to get a paid account over there, set up a few filters and move some icons over.

I'm also going to move biking_geek over there, but for that I actually want to move the posts. So that'll take a while.

Early Summer Plant Walk

Sun, 05 Jun 2005 18:28:20 GMT

conrad7 and I went on a nice plant walk with some folks over at Misty Meadows. Learned a lot about plants that I've seen around in the woods but didn't know the names or know much about. Wendy Fogg was the person leading the tour and she pointed out a lot of the medicinal uses of the various plants, which was spiffy. When we got back they had lavender lemonade for everyone, which was quite yummy.

Misty Meadows itself is a cute little store with lots of things I wanted to buy. :) But I managed to restrain myself.

This sounds like fun to make...

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 23:15:22 GMT

but seeing as I don't drink, I thought I'd pass the recipe along.

Pink Dandelion Wine

This is a think ahead recipe as it takes one year to age properly. During the hot summer months, when dandelions dot your unsprayed, unpolluted yard (or if you are growing them in your garden), smile, thank the earth and make some ritual wine for next year or as a gift to someone.

· 2 quarts dandelions blossoms
· 2 quarts water
· 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
· 1 lemon
· 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
· 4-5 cups sugar
· 1/3 cake active yeast (or wine yeast)

Take the blossoms, remove stem and leaves, and boil in water. Remove from heat and let stand overnight, then strain. Then add lemon, raspberries, cinnamon and sugar (so its overly sweet to the taste). Warm mixture over low flame until the sugar is dissolved (honey many be substituted in equal proportions).

Next, when the mixture is lukewarm, add active yeast which as been suspended in warm water. Cover the pan with a towel and let it set for three days undisturbed.

As you check it, visualize the energy in your wine increasing even as the bubbles are forming ( a sign of fermentation starting). Finally, strain the mixture again and bottle in loosely corked bottles. Once the corks no longer pop out, tasted to see if the wine needs any additional sugar. If so, return it to the stove and sweeten to taste, but bring it to a boil so as to kill the yeast.

Cork tightly and let age for one year in a cool, dark area for best results.

Amusement

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 15:27:35 GMT

The icon on this post amuses me. The discussion in the comments amuses me more.

Quiz!

Thu, 02 Jun 2005 18:48:46 GMT

You are Shetland Wool.
You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a
little on the harsh side. Though you look
delicate you are tough as nails and prone to
intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are
widely respected and even revered.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

random

Thu, 02 Jun 2005 18:20:19 GMT

It's really dumb that nicknames in your Yahoo address book can't have spaces.

Articles: Christian Group boycotts Ford and Christian Evangelics vs. Pagans

Thu, 02 Jun 2005 16:27:31 GMT

American Family Association Boycotting Ford Motor Co. Over Gay Issues
By Dee-Ann Durbin, The Associated Press
Published: May 31, 2005
DETROIT (AP) - A conservative Christian group launched a boycott against Ford Motor Co. Tuesday, saying the second-largest U.S. automaker has given thousands of dollars to gay rights groups, offers benefits to same-sex couples and actively recruits gay employees.

"From redefining family to include homosexual marriage, to giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to support homosexual groups and their agenda, to forcing managers to attend diversity training on how to promote the acceptance of homosexuality... Ford leads the way," American Family Association chairman Donald Wildmon said in a statement.

Ford responded that it respects its customers and employees.

"Ford values all people, regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and cultural or physical differences," Ford vice president of human resources Joe Laymon said.

Laymon added that other automakers - including General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Corp. - provide benefits for same-sex partners and market their vehicles to the gay community.

"It is one of the things that makes us proud to be part of the auto industry," Laymon said.

Tupelo, Miss.-based AFA said it e-mailed an announcement about the Ford boycott to 2.2 million supporters. AFA special projects director Randy Sharp said nearly 55,000 people had signed a pledge supporting the boycott by Tuesday afternoon.

Ford was the only automaker among the 56 companies that got the highest rating last year from the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group. Companies are rated on several factors, including whether they offer benefits to gay partners, donate to gay rights groups and market their products to gays.

Sharp said he is upset by Ford's marketing tactics in gay-oriented publications, including offering to donate $1,000 to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation for every Jaguar or Land Rover sold.

"Ford is willing to do something they have refused to do for any other group," Sharp said.

Ford spokesman Oscar Suris said the company donated $77.9 million to a wide variety of groups last year. The majority - $39.6 million - went to education, he said. A much smaller percentage went to community organizations for gays, Hispanics, blacks, Asians and other groups.

The AFA recently ended a nine-year boycott of The Walt Disney Co. over Disney's decision to extend benefits to same-sex couples and promote gay-related events at its theme parks. The boycott appeared to have little effect, since Disney reported higher earnings and increased theme park attendance during that time.

Christian Evangelicals Have Declared a Culture War: Are You Prepared?

What if you were a Witch and you were told you were not an American because you are not Christian? For some today, this is what is happening as the Christian Right continues its declared culture war against the separation of Church and State, according to author Ed Hubbard. The "Witch Wars Defense Manual" offers advice on how to stand up to their psychological attacks and to stand up for your rights, no matter what your faith.

(PRWEB) June 1, 2005 -- While many Americans are becoming worried and fearful of the recent Christian Evangelical Movement's actions to consolidate political and judicial authority over the United States, some have more to fear than others. Among the Christian Conservatives stated goals is to 'wipe out Paganism in America.' This goal seeks to deny legal and Constitutional recognition of all non-biblical faiths as non-religions and corrupt.

This has direct consequences to a growing faith of Wicca, whose followers are know as Wiccans and often use the word Witch to describe themselves. But Wiccans are not being silent. Author Ed Hubbard has been speaking out, and has published the book 'Witch Wars Defense Manual.' The book explains the underpinnings to the current Christian march to power, and how bad it is going to get before it is all over.

According to Hubbard, "The Christian Evangelical movement is a very powerful group, who are engaging in a psychological war against the American and global population, and seek to deny true religious freedom in favor of a community based exclusively on Judeo-Christian values as interpreted by their leaders. If we are to preserve our freedom of religion, we must acknowledge the Culture War they have declared and understand their strategies, arguments, and tactics in order to protect ourselves."

In his book 'Witch Wars," he reveals ways Pagans fight among themselves, and then explains how Christians attack Pagans and Wiccans. He lays out timelines that show how and where spiritual battles occur and a how the public can anticipate where the next conflict that Christian Evangelics plan in their continued foray in taking back America.

This book is not for the timid; it is a manual that deals with religious conflict on a psychic and spiritual level of the subliminal mind. Examples show how religious leaders use psychological warfare to battle for the heart and soul of our United States, and offers hope to preserve the freedoms we all love and cherish. In "Witch Wars Defense Manual," readers are given the tools to stand up and even disarm those who would use religion as a weapon.

Hubbard, a Wiccan Priest of the Correllian Nativist Church, has personal experience with the Christian Evangelical movement protesting his beliefs, the most famous of which is bringing the Witch School Campus in Hoopeston, Ill, in June 2003. The protests created an international news story and has been the subject of many articles, interviews, and even into studies of religious conflict resolution. In his continued fight for religious freedom, Ed Hubbard continues to live in Hoopeston, where Christians and Pagans coexist in peace today.

GQP!

Thu, 02 Jun 2005 16:13:03 GMT

"The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher regard those who think alike than those who think differently."
- Nietzsche

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 13:31:19 GMT

LJ is having a 24 hour permanent account sale on June 8th.

Ooo...and some of the other features in that post are neat too.

Plants and Harry Potter

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 01:07:29 GMT

conrad7 indulged me this weekend and bought me plants! We picked up a variety of herbs (Italian Parsley, Curley Parsley, Thyme, Varigated Thyme, Rosemary, Chamomile and Peppermint) and a tomato plant. I'm happy! It makes me smile whenever I look at it. :)

Also, we saw this spiffy bit of graffiti on the wall of the DuMP:

I don't need it...

Wed, 25 May 2005 19:18:28 GMT

but I wants it!

my name

Wed, 25 May 2005 12:25:31 GMT

Spell with flickr

dancing around office in glee

Tue, 24 May 2005 13:13:06 GMT

"I am fully satisfied with the revision and accept your ms. for publication in Zoology."

About damn time. :)

Yay Lego People!

Mon, 23 May 2005 23:06:56 GMT

http://www.reasonablyclever.com/mini/index.html

And the part we're interested in and we'll have to leave early...

Thu, 19 May 2005 15:20:48 GMT

Yay Tiger Server! :)

Home Directory sync
- Tiger client management seminar on 5/25 (http://nek12.info.apple.com)

Requirements for Home Directory Sync
- MacOS X Client 10.4 - Does all the work!
- LDAP Directory Service with appropriate Schema (10.4, 10.3.9) to hold com.apple.MCX settings.
- Network Home Directory

Access Control Lists - Files
Software Update Server
iChat Server
Weblog
Either QT55 Publisher or Lunch

Blah, have to flee...

And more Apple Tech Seminar...

Thu, 19 May 2005 15:03:12 GMT

K2 - KeyAuditor & KeyServer Overview
• Integrated IT asset management suite
• Enterprise or Local Network

Automatic Software/Hardware Audits
• Complete inventories; all Mac/Win software

K2 has a Tiger widget! :)

Urgh. We're going to have to leave before they talk about what I'm really interested in.

Apple Tech Seminar continues...

Thu, 19 May 2005 14:17:18 GMT

Every tool he's talking about today is free.

Database driven imaging -

NetRestore PHPServices
• Customized installs for each computer (and computer group)
• Can automatically set computer name
• Change configurations on the fly
• Removes most accidental re-imaging problems
° set-up configuration so that it won't automatically image computer if accidently hit the hot keys.

PHPServices Requirements
• Web Server (Apache)
• Database Server (MySQL)
• PHPServices in NetRestore download
• Web Encryption (SSL) Recommended

Inventory Tracking Solutions
• Hand inputted spreadsheets and Filemaker
• Apple Remote Desktop reporting
• Web enabled reporting database

PHPServices and ARD
• Use ARD to find and gather machine info
• Store reports in central database
• Web enabled queries
• Sync ARD information with PHPServices database

PHPServices and ARD Requirements
• Apple Remote Desktop v2.x
• ARD configured for centralized database
• PHPServices installed and configured
• ADAM (ARD Database Access Manager)

Big Brother
• Easy to read status dashboard
• Monitors network services (Mail, web, dns, etc...)
• Notifications via e-mail or paging
• Additional monitoring with optional client (disk, cpu, processes)

Big Brother Requirements
• OS X or Windows
• Web Server (Apache or INS)
• Big Brother software
• Not really bandwith intensive, can set up how often it updates (every minute, every 5 minutes, etc...)

More information...
• PHPServices - http://www.bombich.com
• Big Brother - http://www.bb4.org
• Big Brother OS X - http://www.tefler.net/bb
° will also have copy of this presentation
• Speaker's e-mail: scott@tefler.net

Apple Tech Seminar

Thu, 19 May 2005 13:31:52 GMT

Yay another tech seminar. Unfortunately we are going to have to leave early and are going to miss some of the topics I'm interested in.

Mac 101 out on the Apple website for computer newbies. Switch 101 for those who have switched from Windows.

Production Suite is now called Final Cut Studio. It's optimized for G5 hardware. (Now there's a shock.)

Datamation has created a new Mac Mini Security Device to lock it down to a desk.

iPod - no new iPods, but there are considerable price drops. There are third party recording devices to attach to the iPods, but they aren't compatible with the iPod mini.

eMac - Faster performance, more RAM (256MB or 512 std), larger harder drive (up to 160GB), better SuperDrive, new ATI Radeon 9600 graphics processor (64MB of dedicated DDR memory, processing of over 1 billion pixels per second). Education prices: $649 - $899.

iMac G5 - 2GHz G5 processor, Airport Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0 std, Gigabit Ethernet, More memory 512MB...can't type fast enough.

Power Mac G5 - Three updated dual processor models (up to two 2.7GHz G5 processors), fster graphics, up to 800gb of internal storage, 16x SuperDrive with double layer support. "The professional system of choice." Great for video and sound, special effects. Great for science and tech, especially genomics. Yay data crunching! :) Over 80% faster than the dual Xeon with Bioinformatics Benchmark System. $1799-$2699, significant price drop.

Star Wars

Thu, 19 May 2005 13:28:01 GMT

Well we made it down to the 12:06am showing of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith in Revere. We were in costume. There were others in costume, some costumes better than others. There was a very cool Sith costume, that along with conrad7's, was one of the best there.

Amusing t-shirts seen:

"Rogues do it from behind."

"I beat anorexia."

The movie was overall pretty cool, but some parts could have been better.

Hayden Christensen is really good at standing still and looking dark, but otherwise is a horible actor. The rest of the cast did a decent job.

I feel they rushed through Anakin's fall to the dark side. He goes far too quickly from "You're evil" to killing children.

The fight scenes kick assed. The movie was really depressing.

There was a short, happy, little moment for Obi Wan/Qui Gon shippers. Ponderosa has a great quote: "Although, holy fuck, at the end, if I didn't sense a million Qui/Obi shippers spontaneously orgasm."

Overall, it was worth seeing. I had a lot of fun.

Woot! Working off of 3 hours sleep today. :)

Hmmm...I don't have a Star Wars icon anymore.

Quote

Tue, 17 May 2005 21:29:34 GMT

"Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents,
gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers"
Socrates (470-399 B.C)

Oooooo...shiny

Mon, 16 May 2005 19:54:45 GMT

I wants it.

Life update

Sun, 15 May 2005 17:51:31 GMT

The brownie pizzas I made for the Aikido party on Friday went over very well. :) The party was fun. A lot of geeky conversation.

I finally put a bunch of books up onto Amazon Marketplace this weekend. So hopefully I'll be making a little bit of income and get rid of some of the clutter in my apartment.

Checked my grade today in CS. I got a B+. I'm happy. Considering the fact that I spent about a month completely lost and the fact that I never could manage to turn an assignment in on time. I'm kind of sad that it's over though. I'm going to have to get used to a new CS professor next semester. :(

I have no words...

Fri, 13 May 2005 18:01:38 GMT

http://bushfish.org/

Interesting discussion and NH Pagan links

Wed, 11 May 2005 21:13:31 GMT

Goof off for 15 minutes, find all sorts of interesting things...

Attitudes of Slash Fen towards RL gay men

NH Pagan Connections

Misty Meadows in Lee, NH.
This sounds like fun:
Sunday June 5         Early Summer Plant Walk
10:30-12                  with Wendy Snow Fogg, Herbalist
Join me in the lush forest ~ where birdsong fills the air! Come, meet the plants that have nourished and healed our ancestors! Listen, the gentle breeze calls to you ~ come ~ come in
reverence ~ come in curiosity ~ come in awe ~ come to learn and come to play! Today you might see the revered Lady Slipper, taste the delicious wintergreen, meet wild oats and
dog toothed violet, and…………….taste cattails!!! Cameras, recorders, etc. are welcome. Long sleeves/pants and sneakers are highly recommended. Cost: $15

and so does this:
Sat/Sun   July 2-3         10-5             HERBS, FLOWERS & FAIRIES: CELEBRATING SUMMER!

Oh, the cuteness:

created by active_apathy on lj